Ghana: DR Congo Petroleum Regulators, Marketers Visit NPA To Study Its Operations

Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the regulator of the petroleum downstream sector, has hosted a team of petroleum regulators and marketers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who are in the country to understudy Ghana’s downstream petroleum operations.

The visit focused on learning about the NPA’s role in promoting transparency, efficiency, and safety in the downstream petroleum industry.

Welcoming the delegation, the NPA Chief Executive, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq., said the choice of Ghana for the study tour “underscores a desire by the team to learn a lot.”

He noted that the Authority has accumulated 20 years of experience in regulating Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

Mr. Tameklo said the NPA has introduced several policies and technological innovations to enhance effective regulation of the industry.

He cited the Bulk Road Vehicle (BRV) Tracking System and the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) as key initiatives used to monitor fuel tanker movements and ensure uniform petroleum pricing across the country.

The NPA Boss said the DRC team could tap into Ghana’s experience and replicate similar interventions in their country.

“You do not have to reinvent the wheel. You can learn from the NPA’s experience. I believe that you will take your time so that your visit will be worthwhile,” he told the delegation.

Mr. Tameklo added that the downstream petroleum sector contributes between eight and nine percent to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), serving the aviation, telecommunications, and other key sectors of the economy.

“It is a pillar of the entire economy,” he emphasized.

In his response, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Jacque Mayinga, said the team was ready to learn from the NPA to improve downstream petroleum regulation and operations in the DRC.